Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-02-16
IS5ERTING A RABBiISEFF.
Substituted, But unsuccessfuiIy, for . Hun
Eye In New York CItv

Substituted, Hut UnsuccessfuiIy. for . Human
Eye In New York City.
From the New York Times.
Charles A. Williams, city editor of the
Minneapolis Tribune, who, when Is years
OF age, injured one OF his eyes while celsbrst
Ing the Fourth OF July In the manner usual
With the American small boy, has lust sub
mitted to the rare and interesting operation
to the trsnsplantatIon OF q rabbit eve TO his
own head to replace his damaged optic, the
removal OF which was deemed advisable,
; Ihis was done to obyiste the necessity Of the
insertion OF glass eye and the annoyances
consequent upon Its use, and to secure the
natural appearance which an eve that has
once been living gives. There was of course
no nope OF giving sight. A rabbits eye wss
used because rabbits, among all the animals
alone have eyes OF the same nues and viii,
the same muscles and apparatus as mana
Inc operation was first attempted by the
ceieprated occuiist Chibret, OF Paris, in MAY,
lss5. 1t failed, and he advised no further
sequent attempts, however, were made. and
All were unsuccessful. DR.. {. II. MAY, of
this city, instructor In ophthalmoloSv 10
the New YORK polyclinic, became interested
IN the subject, and experimental with "a
rabbits, and was successful In casea He
concluded that the operation could be per.
formed with good results upon a man, and
published on account of his ex periments in Tie
New York Medical Reuien, of Nav IssS
Inc - article fell under Mr.. Williams snotice.
ne ecorresponded with the occulist and came
70 TINS city, Jan. q, to have the operation
performed. This was done on Feb. 1. For
week previous the oculist had been practic.
ing on cadavers at medical college to be-
come &c, isni,isr with the operation. The rab-
known Is the Belgian hare. He had hazel
eyes, the same color as Mr. Willisms'.
On the DAY OF the operation the rabbit was
e.neIlAea ana bis eye removed. DIR. May was
Sssis.eu n,s n ~ y. 1ruening, appointment oculist
py Df. wilmer, OF Mount Sinai hospital, and
several medical students. The copiunctivsl
sac OF the rabbits eye, containing the ball.
was severed from the corner and the fonr
principal muscles, leaving the ball loose
Uarep' nA,s where II was attached to the optic
nerve 70 Keep it alive until the transfer, The
surgeons next turned their attention To the
man and went through the same performances
Win MIN, except that through each of Inc
muscles ana the edge Of the onjunctive were
passed black silk threads or sutures to hoiS
the nerve In place. The optic nerve of ths
IaoDit WAS then severed and its eve trans
ierred to the mans head and Joined firmly
10 inc optic nerve by catgut threats. Then
.he muscles and COM unctivs were tied ana
closed and covered with white vsseli1s and
cotton compresses were placed over both ewes
which were tightly bandsged, The onsrs.
ton lasted one and q quarter hOurn. 'Tha
Pauent was put TO bed and hot applications
made TO his eye every few minutes 10 aid the
cohesion OF the severed psrtA On the second
day slight hszlness OF the cornes was noticed.
On the fourth day the growth Of tha muscles
was completed and the rabbits eye moved
In unison with the human.
On the evening OF the eighth day q sliRht
sloughinK OF the oornea was observed, and Il
increased 70 that great portion of the iris
escaped and left the eye colorIsss. A the
abrasion could not be healed without leaving
great enhancement, 1t was decided to remove
sae eye. This was done on the ninth day In
~ tninutes, the patient being under the infiu.
ence Of cocaine. since the eve Was removsd
the cavity has been kept bandaged and Gov.
efed with vsseltna Mr.. Williams Will wait
onul the healing process u finished and then
nave gia:s eye inserted. A. all the coudi.
uons N tnis oase were most favorable tho